It is with horror that I read the article that described how the Hanover High School council is considering transmogrifying our beloved Marauder mascot into a three-toed sloth (“What’s in a name? Hanover High council debating if it’s time to stop being Marauders,” Dec. 20). I was in the eighth grade at the Richmond Middle School in 1986 when this was last considered and I can assure you that it was a humorous joke then. It should be that now.
I strongly urge the council to face the simple truth that any three-toed sloth, given the choice, would much rather be a Marauder. What’s more fun? Plundering opposing teams for goals, looting them for points, pillaging them for baskets and raiding them for touchdowns, or moving very slowly while munching on twigs and berries? The answer is clear. Plus, for our woke friends concerned about inclusivity, marauding is an enjoyable activity open to everyone, regardless of race, creed, gender or sexual orientation.
But our beloved Marauder is a man, you say? Well, give his mustache a shave, slap a bandanna on his head and voilà, you have a gender-fluid mascot! Who says inclusivity can’t be fun?
There are thousands of alumni, myself included, who loved being Marauders. While many of us have moved away as adults, the Marauder is a common connection that unifies generations of Hanover High School graduates. Let’s leave our three-toed friend to his herbivorous habits and let’s go marauding. Together.
DANIEL L. RICHARDS
Etna
The writer is a member of the Hanover High School Class of 1991.
For several years, holiday shoppers in Hanover have heard Rotarians ringing bells and staffing the maple syrup bucket, taking donations to benefit Listen’s Heating Helpers program. This is a program that makes a real difference: Last year, Listen provided 400 households with $130,000 in heating assistance.
This holiday season the bells have been silent on Main Street, but Hanover Rotary Club has been virtually ringing bells and continues to raise funds for Listen. Club members seeded the campaign with more than $13,000 in donations, and then we challenged the Upper Valley community to match that. I’m happy to report we have raised more than $28,000 total to date.
We will continue the Virtual Bell Ringing campaign through the end of December. You can go to hanovernhrotary.org to link to the YouTube playlist of Hanover Rotarians and other community members ringing bells (more than 2,000 views to date!) and to learn how you can still contribute and help your neighbors stay warm this winter.
Thank you.
TODD ALLEN
Hartford
The writer is president of the Hanover Rotary Club.
The Valley News reported on Monday’s conjunction of the planets Saturn and Jupiter (“Giant planets crossing paths in night sky,” Dec. 21). The question of the “star of Bethlehem” in the Christmas story was raised.
The “star” is explained by astronomer Craig Chester in an article that became the basis for the 2007 documentary The Star of Bethlehem (imprimis.hillsdale.edu/the-star-of-bethlehem). It was a conjunction of the planet Jupiter and the star Regulus. When Jupiter reached the end of its orbit as viewed from the Earth, it appeared to slow, stop and move in the other direction.
As has been said many times in many different ways: “For those who believe, no evidence is needed. For those who don’t believe, no evidence is enough.”
HOWARD SHAFFER
Enfield